Rebuilding work is expected to begin later this week following a fire at the Triumph motorcycle factory in Hinckley.

But bosses estimate it could be four months before the manufacturing operation at the Jacknell Road plant is back to normal.

Workers have been told their jobs are secure and customers have been told that supplies of bikes, parts and accessories will continue as usual despite the devastating blaze.

More than 100 firefighters fought to contain the fire on Friday night but were unable to save the assembly line and the storage area. Fire crews were still there today and could be at the scene for another two days.

Triumph managing director Karl Wharton said: "No one was hurt and all of our 650 UK staff are being informed that their jobs are secure."

On Saturday, staff were turned away from the damaged building and the new factory next door, which supplies frames for the assembly line.

Throughout the day, Triumph owner John Bloor was in talks with the company's management to thrash out a recovery plan.

In the meantime fire crews continued to damp down, tackling pockets of fire that occasionally sparked up.

At the height of the blaze there were 20 fire crews battling the flames and water was relayed from the Ashby Canal.

Senior divisional officer Steve Pinsent said: "A tremendous effort by the fire crews meant that 50 per cent of the factory was saved.

"We managed to put blocks up to save the office area, the paint section and the machinery that the parts are made with. No workers were here at the time of the fire."

Triumph motorcycles emerged from a small factory in Coventry in 1902. The brand dominated the industry's golden age in the 1950s and 1960s.

The bikes were used in Hollywood films by movie legends like Steve McQueen.